SPOKANE: The Spokane Shock had the misfortune of playing in the best division in the AFL last season, as a 10-8 record was not good enough to propel Spokane to the postseason for the first time in franchise history. Shock fans hope that outcome will not be duplicated in 2013 and Head Coach Andy Olson was quick to field a team he believes can match up with the Shock's high-powered divisional foes. For the second consecutive year, the team will open camp with Erik Meyer under center. Meyer was lost for the season after suffering a concussion in Week 1 last year. The 17th-ranked rushing offense from a year ago still does not have a true fullback on the roster, but offensive lineman Andrew Nierman will likely fill the void once again. The team will also again rely on record-setting receiver Adron Tennell for big plays. Tennell set franchise marks last season for receptions, yards, touchdowns and points. He will be assisted this season by the returns of second-year men Steven Black and Jeffrey Soloman, as well as the additions of a handful of rookies, including fellow former Big XII standout Brandon Kinnie. The Shock will look to solve last season's defensive woes with a handful of fresh faces. Former Clemson Tigers Kourtnei Brown and Rennie Moore will join second-year man James Ruffin along the defensive line. Two more rookies, William Green and Chase Vaughn will also be in the mix. The linebackers look to be set, with Jack ' Terence Moore ' and Mac ' Beau Bell ' both returning from last year's squad. The team's biggest free agent acquisition came in the area that needed it the most ' the secondary. Spokane's defensive backfield will feature the League's leading tackler from a year ago, Cameron McGlenn, who joins the Shock after two seasons in Iowa. McGlenn will team with All-Arena DB Terrance Sanders to improve a unit that ranked dead last in the AFL in passing defense a year ago, despite Sanders' record-breaking year. The squad will also bring back veteran assistance in Ruschard Dodd-Masters, Paul Stephens and Patrick Stoudamire, as well as rookies Josh Pleasant and Thad Turner. One area the Shock will not have to worry about in 2013 is the kicking game, as 2012 Kicker of the Year Kenny Spencer returns for his second season in the League. The talent in the West Division certainly has not diminished over the offseason' and if Spokane's rookie pool develops as anticipated, the competition for West Coast supremacy will only get more intense in 2013.

CHICAGO: Despite a 10-8 record in 2012, the Chicago Rush missed the postseason for the first time in franchise history last year. This year, they will likely be without quarterback Russ Michna for the first time in five years, as the team's all-time leading passer has yet to come across the transactions wire. In his absence, AFL veteran Gino Guidugli will make the southbound trip down I-94 after spending the last two seasons in Milwaukee with the Mustangs. The 'Italian Stallion' got the job done with his legs as much as his arm in 2012, scoring 18 rushing touchdowns and passing for 86 last season. That athletic ability in one player should be a welcome addition to the Rush, who used a combination of Michna's arm and Luke Drone's legs to achieve nearly identical numbers last year. However, Guidugli will need to take care of the football as he tied the AFL single-season record with 25 interceptions in 2012. Should Guidugli struggle, the Rush have also added second-year quarterback Carson Coffman, who started over Collin Klein at Kansas State. The offense should get some firepower from Chicago's touchdown king, 'Big Play' Reggie Gray, who returns for his third year with the team. Gray will figure to once again be the focus of the offense after the team lost 2012 NET10 Rookie of the Year Jared Perry to the Arizona Rattlers earlier this offseason. Though Perry's near record-setting production will be difficult to reproduce, the Rush did make some waves with the addition of longtime San Jose Sabercats receiver and kick returner Rodney Wright. Wright, along with Ironman Marcus Everett and a healthy Troy McBroom ' who missed all of last season recovering from an injury ' should make for a solid receiving corps. On the defensive side of the ball, the addition of defensive lineman Anthony Hoke should provide some much needed quarterback pressure. The loss of Jack linebacker Kelvin Morris to Orlando will no doubt hurt, but the addition of Everett ' a Second Team All-Arena selection in 2012 ' should help ease the pain. Mac linebacker Nekos Brown returns to the squad, as does defensive back Jorrick Calvin, who blossomed into a pleasant surprise as a late season acquisition last year. Calvin will team with Semaj Moody and the newly-acquired Joe Phinisee in the secondary. If free agent and 2011 Defensive Player of the Year Vic Hall does not return, Rush fans can at least take solace in the fact that the defensive backfield is in very capable hands.